A Shadow of Treason

I'm still not noticing any effects of the Enbrel, other than the upset stomach the day of the shot. I'm not anywhere close to giving up on it, but it's a bit discouraging. I've heard from other users who said that it would change my life. The only thing it's changed so far is my need to be near a bathroom. I gave myself the shot alone yesterday. It burned a bit more than last week, but I'm so proud of myself for doing it.

Mia has already jumped back on her Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer bandwagon this year. Last Christmas season, she had several deer toys, all of which were dubbed Rudolph (as was she), and we watched the movies ad nauseum. Yesterday she started talking about him again, so today I picked up the movies from the library. She's eating tomato soup (her favorite) for lunch and calling it reindeer food.

A Shadow of Treason by Tricia Goyer is the second book in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War. Painted Sophie Grace is back as is her love Phillip, and all the other characters Father Manuel, Deion, Jose, and even Michael has returned from the dead. Walt approaches Sophie and tells her a tale of stolen gold that could arm the Republicans in the war against the Fascist Nationalists, but the only person who knows where the gold is hidden is Sophie's ex-fiance Michael. To save Spain, she must reinstate herself in Michael's life and find out the secrets he's hiding. But to do so, she has to turn her back of new love Phillip. Walt also works behind the scenes to bring Father Manuel to Paris so the world can hear the truth about the German bombing of Guernica as well as reuniting Jose and Sophie. There are so many plotlines in this book, but Goyer handles all of these disparate, desperate characters with aplomb. Sophie's fear and distrust of Michael are palpable. The Spanish Civil War was a complicated era, but Goyer treats it with objectivity. No side was completely innocent, but the devastation done by Franco's Nationalists with the aid of the Nazi party was abominable. The one little complaint I had is why would Michael take pictures of the secret tunnel and then hide them away where Sophie could find them? Other than that loose end, the book zips along with heartbreak and suspense. Heavy clouds hang over the characters, but they cling to their faith in God and each other. I can't wait for the last book!

To start on the series, read A Valley of Betrayal. My contest for a free copy of For Parents Only is going through midnight on Friday. Just drop me an email to clockstein at centurytel.net in order to be entered for one of two copies.